Container unit and carrier for multiple units



g- 7. 1956 R. o. DUFF, JR

CONTAINER UNIT AND CARRIER FOR MULTIPLE UNITS Filed Feb. 1. 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 7, 1956 R. o. DUFF, JR 2,757,849

CONTAINER UNIT AND CARRIER FOR MULTIPLE urms Filed Feb. 1, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent CONTAINER UNIT AND CARRIER FORMULTIPLE UNITS Robert 0. Duff, Jr., Boston, Mass., assignor to ContainerCorporation of America, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware 7Application February 1, 1955', Serial No. 485,389 Claims. (Cl. 229-45)The invention relates to packaging devices composed of relatively strongbut light weight and inexpensive materials such as paperboard and, moreparticularly, to packaging devices especially useful in packing,storing, shipping and otherwise handling a multiple number of individualpackages or containers of merchandise as a single packageor unit and tounit containers adapted for unit handling of multiples thereof.Packaging devices of a type embodying the invention have been employedvery successfully in packaging, shipping and storing dressed poultry.

Among the primary objects of the invention is the provision of acontainer of such special construction that it will serve adequately asa secure unit package for a particular commodity and yet may beassembled and secured together with another similar package or two ormore additional similar packages in what may be termed a carrier memberso that the several unit package or containers collectively with thecarrier will form a multiple or compound package unit.

Another of the primary objects is to provide a carrier member soconstructed and arranged as to interlock with one or a plurality ofindividual container units thereby to constitute a strong and easilytransported compound unit but which will permit ready unlocking andremoval of any or all of the container units as may be desired.

Still another object of importance is to provide a simple yet highlyeffective locking means by which the closure members of each individualor unit container may be secured in closed position relative to suchunit container when the container is apart from the carrier as well aswhen the unit container is connected or assembled singly or in multiplenumbers with the carrier, the locking means being such as to functionboth to secure the closure member of a unit container and the unitcontainer to the carrier at one and the same time.

A further object is to provide an eflicient and effective locking devicewhich may be applied to the carrier as well as to the unit containersand of such nature that it may be employed to cooperate with and to aidthe locking means of vthe unit container in securing the closure of theunit container in closed position and simultaneously securing the unitcontainer to the carrier. In this connection it should be stated thatthe invention provides a unique type of container locking means by whichthe carrier and each and every individual or unit container may befirmly and securely interlocked for handling purposes but in such mannerthat each of the unit containers is subject to immediate selectiverelease from the carrier for separate handling or for opening the unitclosure for inspection or other access to the container contents.

Many other objects as well as the uses and advantages of the inventionwill be appreciated after reading the following description and claimsand after view ing the drawings in which:

Fig. '1 is a perspective view of the presently preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the view representing an assembly of three individual orunit containers fully locked in its place in the carrier, a second unitcontainer in place in the carrier with the closure and locking means inposition for locking to the carrier, and the third unit container in aposition where it is about to be placed in the carrier, the viewshowingthe closure members in open position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevation of the combined container andcarrier shown at the left in Fig. l with the locking means released;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the carrier and a container wall, theview representing a section taken along section line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through one of the side Walls of a carrierand the adjacent end wall and locking flap of the container showing adouble locking arrangement, the view being taken along section line 4-4of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the section line shown in Fig. 4,looking in the direction indicated by arrows 5-5;

Fig. 6 is another sectional view taken along the section line shown inFig. 4, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows 6-6;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a blank for a preferred type of container to beused with the carrier; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a blank for a preferred type of carrier.

The drawings reveal, in Figs. 1 and 7, the construction of the presentlypreferred individual container units which have been employed with thelikewise presently preferred type of carrier construction also shown inFig. 1 in combination with containers and in blank form in Fig. 8.However, as will become apparent, both the container and the carrier maybe varied over wide ranges of construction while embodying theinvention.

Essentially, the packaging device illustrating the invention consists ofthree unit containers each of hexahedral form, equal in theirrespectively corresponding dimensions, and otherwise of likeconstruction, and a trough or U-shaped carrier of such width, height andlength and general conformation as to receive and embrace the three unitcontainers in snugly nested arrangement therein. Of course, the carriermay be constructed to receive only two or it may embrace four or moreunit containers, as may be desired, these specifications depending uponvarious factors including the size and weight of commodities to bepackaged, the strength of the materials of which the containers andcarriers are made, the purpose or use to be made of the combined unitsand carriers, etc.

The unit container blank shown in Fig. 7 which may be cut from anysuitable paperboard, corrugated or otherwise, is generally rectangularin outline. It is cut and scored to provide like side panels 11 and 12of equal size, similar end panels 13 and 14, a glue or securing flap 15by which the blank ends are to be connected, bottom forming flaps 16,17, 18 and 19, a top closure flap or member 21, and a second top closureflap or member 22 which, at each of its opposite ends carries what willbe termed a locking or securing flap 23. .Top and bottom edges of theside panels 11. and 12 are defined by the parallel scores 24, 25 and24', 25 and the bottom edges of end panels 13 and 14 are defined byscores 26 and 26 aligned with the scores 25, 25'. The vertical edges ofthe side and end panels and glue flap 15 are defined by parallel scores27 so thatvwhen the blank is folded along such scores it forms arectangular tube, the flap 15 being secured flat against the inner orouter face of end panel 14 by adhesive or staples or other fasteningmeans.

After thetubehas been formed as above described it may be flattened byfolding one end panel and one side panel against the respectivelyadjacent side and end panels for stacking and shipping in bundles orotherwise, ready to be set-up or erected from such collapsed conditionat the place of use. As *will be recognized, the several bottom closureflaps in this example are formed to provide an automatic lock of thewell known Houghland type, effective in the process of setting-up thecontainer from the flattened state by first folding inward the side flap16 having the notch in its edge, next folding in the two end flaps 17and 19 and, finally, folding inward the other side flap 18 theprojecting tongue of which snaps through the notch in the opposite sideflap and lodges against the inside face thereof.

The upper edge of each of end wall panels preferably is notched, asindicated at 28, to a depth substantially equal to the thickness of thematerial of which the container is composed, each of these edges at itsend closest to the end edge of closure member 21 (in the set-upcondition of the container), preferably being sloped down gradually tothe full depth and terminating in an abrupt shoulder 29 at a distancefrom the respective junctures of the side wall 11 with the end walls 13and 14, equal to the width of the closure member 21. The purpose of thisarrangement is to permit the top surface of the closure member 21 to beflush with the top edge portions 30 over that portion of the containertop which will be covered by the other closure member 22. It will benoted that each end edge 31 of the closure member 21 projects slightlybeyond the respectively adjacent score 27--the amount preferably beingequal to or a little more than a thickness of the materialso that it mayrest upon the top edge 28 of each end wall. Each of end wall panels 13and 14 has an opening 32 of rectangular shape and particular dimensionsand location, for purposes to be described.

The closure member 22 preferably has a width, measured normal to thecrease score 24, that will permit it to lap the closure 21 to thebeginning of the upward slope of each edge 28, a position slightlybeyond the upwardly projected position of the edge 33 defining one endof each opening 32. Each of the locking or securing flaps 23 preferablyis delineated from the closure member 22 by a pair of crease scores 34,34' parallel to scores 27, the scores 34, at least, being spaced outwardfrom the respectively adjacent scores by an amount substantially equalto one thickness of the material although it may be desirable, incertain instances, to have this amount equal to one thickness of thematerial of which the container is made plus the thickness of thematerial of which the carrier is made.

Each securing or locking flap 23 terminates in an integral locking tabgenerally designated L and each in construction and function is similarto the other. Each tab L is joined to its flap 23 along a score 35 whichis parallel to and spaced from score 34' by a distance substantiallyequal to the perpendicular distance between the upper surface of theclosure member 21 when disposed in the recesses of the upper edges ofend wall panels 13 and 14 and the edge 36 defining the upper edgeboundary of the adjacent end wall opening 32. At each end of score 35the edges of each tab L are notched, as indicated at 37, to equal depthsand so that the distance between opposite notch bottoms is substantiallyequal to or slightly less than the distance from the edge 33 of opening32 to the opposite edge, the width of each tab L between its side edgesbeing made greater than the distance between said end edges of opening32 preferably by an amount equal to about two thicknesses of'thematerial. The width of each notch 37 measured normal to the score 35will be substantially equal to or slightly greater than two thicknessesof the material of which the container is made if containers and thecarrier are composed of the same gauge of material, for reasons whichwill appear. Centrally of the outer free edge of each locking tab is asemi circular finger notch 38 and extending diagonally from points nearthe junction of the arcuate edge of the notch 38 with the outer freeedge of the tab to the bases of the notches 37 are scores 39. The tabdimension measured normal to the score 35 preferably is slightly lessthan the vertical dimension between the upper edge 36 and the oppositeedge of opening 32.

Thus constructed the container is easily erected, closed and releasablybut securely locked as will be apparent. After closure member 21 hasbeen swung down about crease score 24 to lie in recess 28, the other topclosure member 22 is swung down about crease score 24' to rest upon theupper surface of closure member 21 in which position the locking flaps23 and locking tabs L may appear somewhat after the manner illustratedby the container in the center, Fig. 1. From such position the lockingflaps are swung down about crease scores 34 to positions parallel to theend wall panels when the free or outer ends of the locking tabs L may bepushed through the openings 32, the tabs L swinging about crease scores35 and the opposite outer corner portions of the tabs buckling alongscores 39 to permit the tabs to pass the edges of the opening. Theinward movement of the tabs is continued until the edge 33 and the edgeopposite thereto have entered the opposed notches 37 at which time theclosure is effectively locked in closed position. To effect release ofthe closure it is only necessary to insert a finger into the opening 32and through the notch 38 and pull outward upon the tab.

The carrier, as each container preferably is made and as shown in Fig.8, is composed of a single integral rectangular sheet of material suchas paperboard which is scored along spaced parallel score lines 41, 42to provide a base or bottom panel 43 and a side panel 44 at each sidethereof. The distance between scores 41, 42, that is, the width of thebottom panel 43, will be equal to the overall length of the containersto be carried as measured between the outer surfaces of the containerend walls 13 and 14. The length of the bottom panel 43 preferably willbe equal to the product of the number of containers to be carried timesthe overall width of a container between the outside surfaces of itsside walls 11 and 12, assuming that the containers are of equal size.The height of each side wall panel 44, as measured normal to the scores41, 42, preferably is slightly less than or, at most, equal to theoverall distance between the bottom of one of the containers and theedge 30 or, approximately, the height of an end wall panel 13 or 14 of acontainer so that the upper edges 45 of the carrier side walls will lie,preferably, a short distance below but not higher than flush with thecontainer edges 30 and the adjacent top surfaces of the inner closuremembers 21 when the containers are in place within the carrier.

Each carrier side wall has one rectangular opening for each container,such opening being positioned to register with the adjacent opening inthe container end wall although it is preferable that such opening beslightly larger in its horizontal dimension in the plane of the wallthan-the corresponding dimension of the opening in the container endwall. Preferably also, each opening in the carrier side walls isnormally closed by a locking tab M which is similar to the locking tabsL in construction and function, each being cut free from the carrierwall about three sides as indicated by the full lines 46 and hinged tothe wall along its fourth side or bottom along an horizontal edge scoreas indicated by the dotdash line 47. These locking tabs M are alsonotched as at 48 at their corners adjacent to the hinge scores 47 to adepth such that the distance between the bottoms of opposed notches 48of a tab M will be slightly less than the distance between a containeropening edge 33 and the opposite edge, while the width of each suchnotch measured normal to .the score line 47 will be equal to or slightlygreater than one thickness of the material of which the container ismade. After the manner of preparation of tabs L, the tabs M are notchedas at 49 to provide finger openings and scored diagonally as at 50 topermit buckling of the tab as it is pushed through the opening in theadjacent container end wall.

Double security, if needed, is provided by the locking tabs M which willbe pushed inward through the container end wall openings 32 where thecorner edges at the notches 4-8 will engage the inner face of thecontainer end wall 13 or 14, as the case may be, to secure the tab fromreleasing and returning to its original-position. The tabs M are alsointended to obstruct the outward movement of the tabs L by engaging themin end edge to side abutment after the manner illustrated in Fig. 4.However it is a simple matter to release and remove any desiredcontainer from the carrier by first pulling out the carrier locking tabsM through the openings in the particular container end walls andthereafter releasing the tabs L of such container. After the containeris released the closure member 22 may again be closed and relockedthereby to provide a closed unit.

In the ordinary use of the container-carrier combination, the packedcontainers are closed to the extent of folding down each closure member21 and then folding the closure members 22 over and down upon the members 21 but the flaps 23 are permitted to project outward at each end ofeach container. A container is then placed within the carrier with theopenings in its end walls in register with opposed openings in theopposite side walls of the carrier whereupon the end flaps 23 are foldeddown about the scores 34' (or 34, 34') to positions to and against theoutside surfaces of the carrier 'side walls to bring the locking tabs Linto register with the respective openings.

When the tabs L are in such registering position they lie outside of thelocking tabs M so that by pushing the opposed tabs L toward one anotherthey are moved against tabs M displacing tabs M inwardly through theopenings 32 at the same time that the tabs L are forced through theopenings into the container. In this operation the diagonal scores ofthe tabs L and M permit the tabs to buckle enough to pass through theopenings but the inherent resilience of the fibrous material causes thetab side edges to return to their initial positions thereby to lock thetabs in their inset positions. Since the natural movements of the handsand fingers of a person performing the above described operations willdrive the tabs L inward to positions substantially at right angles tothe side walls of container and carrier before the tabs are released byremoval of the hands the tabs L will pass the tabs M on the inwardmovement and the latter will tend to spring upward to the position shownin Fig. 4 to bring their free outer edges into abutment against theouter surfaces of tabs L. Of course the tabs M may be omitted where thedouble locking security is deemed to be unnecessary, in which casereliance for security will be placed solely upon tabs L.

The close nested arrangement of the several containers within onecarrier with each container side wall abutted relatively close againstthe adjacent container or containers together with the arrangement ofthe flaps 23 and locking tabs L which tend to draw the carrier andcontainer bottoms tightly against one another, produce a very rigidstructure so that a number of heavily loaded containers may be handledas one when placed in a carrier. The arrangement not only facilitateshandling, storing and shipping certain types of commodities such asdressed poultry but effects substantial economies as will beappreciated. I

While I have illustrated and described what presently are a preferredcontainer unit, a preferred carrier and a preferred combinationarrangement, other container units, carriers and satisfactorycombinations may be devised without departing from the invention spiritand the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A unitary package for merchandise composed from sheet material suchas paperboard and comprising a plurality of independent containers and acarrier member releasably secured to each of the containers, saidcarrier member including a bottom panel and spaced upstanding sidepanels at opposite sides of the bottom panel, each of said side panelshaving apertures therethrough at locations between the top and bottomedges of such panel and in spaced relation to one another between thepanel ends, each of said independent containers being substantially ofhexahedral form and including a bottom wall, two pairs of opposed sidewalls and a top wall formed as a closure, one of one pair of opposedside walls being disposed substantially in face-to-face adjacentrelation to one and the other to the other of the opposed inner faces ofthe side panels of the carrier member, each of said one pair of opposedwalls of each independent container having an aperture substantially inregister with an aperture in the carrier side panel to which it isadjacent, each of said container closure members extending from onecarrier side panel to the other and having opposite end portionsextending across the upper edges of the respectively adjacent side wallsof such container and the adjacent upper edges of the carrier sidepanels, and locking means carried by each of said opposite end portionsof each closure member and disposed through the adjacent pair ofregistering apertures and in locking engagement with the adjacent sidewall of such container.

2. A unitary package for merchandise composed from sheet material suchas paperboard and comprising a plurality of independent containers and acarrier member releasably secured to each of the containers, saidcarrier member including a bottom panel and spaced upstanding sidepanels at opposite sides of the bottom panel, each of said side panelshaving apertures therethrough at locations between the top and bottomedges of such panel and in spaced relation to one another between thepanel ends, each of said independent containers being substantially ofhexahedral form and including a bottom wall, two pairs of opposed sidewalls and a top wall formed as a closure and having hinged connectionwith one of the side walls along a hinge axis extending transverse tothe side panels of the carrier, one of one pair of opposed side wallsbeing disposed substantially in face-to-face adjacent relation to oneand the other to the other of the opposed inner faces of the side panelsof the carrier member, each of said one pair of opposed walls of eachindependent container having an aperture substantially in register withan aperture in the carrier side panel to which it is adjacent, each ofsaid container closure members extending from one carrier side panel tothe other and having opposite end portions extending across the upperedges of the respectively adjacent side walls of such container and theadjacent upper edges of the carrier side panels, and locking meanscarried by each of said opposite end portions of each closure member anddisposed through the adjacent pair of registertering apertures and inlocking engagement with the adjacent side wall of such container.

3. A unitary package for merchandise composed from sheet material suchas paperboard and comprising a plurality of independent containers and acarrier member releasably secured to each of the containers, saidcarrier member including a bottom panel and spaced upstanding sidepanels at opposite sides of the bottom panel, each of said side panelshaving apertures therethrough at locations between the top and bottomedges of such panel and in spaced relation to one another between thepanel ends, each of said independent containers including a bottom wall,two pairs of opposed side walls and a top wall formed as a closure andhaving hinged connection with one of the side walls along an axisextending transverse to and between the carrier side panels, one of onepair of opposed side walls being disposed substantially in face-to-faceadjacent relation to one and the other to the other of the opposed innerfaces of the side panels of the carrier member, each of said one pair ofopposed walls of each independent container having an aperturesubstantially in register with an aperture in the carrier side panel towhich it is adjacent, each of said container closure members extendingfrom one carrier side panel to the other and having opposite endportions extending across the upper edges of the respectively adjacentside walls of such container and the adjacent upper edges of the carrierside panels, and locking means carried byeach of said opposite endportions of each closure member and disposed through the adjacent pairof registering apertures and in locking engagement with the adjacentside wall of such container.

4. A unitary package for merchandise composed from sheet material suchas paperboard and comprising a plurality of independent containers and acarrier member releasably secured to each of the containers, saidcarrier member including a bottom panel and spaced upstanding sidepanels at opposite sides of the bottom panel, each of said side panelshaving apertures therethrough at locations between the top and bottomedges of such panel and in spaced relation to one another between thepanel end, each of said independent containers being substantially ofhexahedral form and including a bottom wall, two pairs of opposed sidewalls and a top wall formed as a closure, one of one pair of opposedside walls being disposed substantially in face-to-face adjacentrelation to one and the other to the other of the opposed inner faces ofthe side panels of the carrier member, each of said one pair of opposedwalls of each indepedent container having an aperture substantially inregister with an aperture in the carrier side panel to which it isadjacent, each of said container closure members extending from onecarrier side panel to the other and having opposite end portionsextending outwardly across the upper edges of the respectively adjacentside walls of such container and outwardly across and thence downwardlybelow the adjacent upper edges of the carrier side panels, and lockingmeans carried by each of said opposite end portions of each closuremember and projecting through the adjacent pair of registering aperturesand in locking engagement with the adjacent side wall of such container.

5. A unitary package composed of sheet material such as paperboard andcomprising a plurality of individual merchandise containers and acarrier member common to all of the containers for the simultaneoussupport thereof, the carrier member including a generally rectangularbottom support panel and connected side panels extending upward inspaced relation to one another from a pair of opposite edges of thebottom panel, each of the side panels having a series of openingstherethrough in spaced relation to one another and to the bounding edgesof the panel, each of the containers being disposed upon said bottompanel between the side panels and each having substantially oppositeside wall portions one of which is disposed adjacent to one of thecarrier side panels and the other of which is disposed adjacent to theother side panel of the carrier, each of said container wall portionshaving an opening in register with one of the openings in the adjacentside panel, and means carried by each container and extending about theupper portion of the carrier side panel-s and projecting through theadjacent registering openings in the side panel and side wall portionsfor interlocking the containers and carrier.

6. A unitary package composed of sheet material such as paperboard andcomprising a plurality of individual merchandise containers and acarrier member common to all of the containers for the simultaneoussupport thereof, the carrier member including a generally rectangularbottom support panel and connected side panel-s extending upward inspaced relation to one another from a pair of opposite edges of thebottom panel, each of the side panels having a series of openingstherethrough in spaced relation to one another and to the bounding edgesof the panel, each of the containers being supported upon said bottompanel between the side panels and each having substantially oppositeside wall portions one of which is disposed substantially inface-to-face abutting relation with the inner face of one of the carrierside panels and the other of which is disposed in similar relation withthe inner face of the other side panel of the carrier, each of saidcontainer wall portions having an opening in register with one of theopenings in the adjacent side panel, cover means carried by eachcontainer, and means attached to said cover means adjacent to each ofsaid opposite wall portions of each container and extending over theadjacent upper edge portion of the carrier side panels and projectingthrough the adjacent registering openings in the side panel and sidewall portion for interlocking the containers and carrier.

7. A unitary package composed of sheet material such as paperboard andcomprising a plurality of individual and independent merchandisecontainers and a carrier member common to all of the containers for thesimultaneous support thereof, the carrier member including an elongatedbottom support panel providing a pair of relatively parallel edgesextending lengthwise thereof and connected side panels extending upwardin spaced relation to one another from said pair of edges, each of theside panels having a series of openings therethrough in spaced relationto one another and to the bounding edges of the panel, each of thecontainers being disposed upon said bottom panel between the side panelsand each having substantially opposite side wall portions one of whichis disposed adjacent to one of the carrier side panels and the other ofwhich is disposed adjacent to the other side panel of the carrier, eachof said container wall portions having an opening in register with oneof the openings in the adjacent side panel, a closure member integralwith and hinged to its container, each closure member having flapportions adapted to extend over the upper edges of said side panels anddownward along the outer side faces thereof, and means carried by eachcontainer closure member flap portion projecting through the adjacentregistering openings in the side panel and side wall portions forinterlocking the containers and carrier.

8. A unitary package composed of sheet material such as paperboard andcomprising a plurality of individual merchandise containers each ofhexagonal for-m and a carrier member common to all of the containers forthe simultaneous support thereof, the carrier member including agenerally rectangular bottom support panel and connected side panelsextending upward in spaced relation to one another from a pair ofopposite edges of the bottom panel, each of the side panels having aseries of openings therethrough in spaced relation to one another and tothe bounding edges of the panel, each of the containers having one walldisposed upon said bottom panel between the side panels and each havingsubstantially opposite side wall portion one of which is disposedadjacent to one of the carrier side panels and the other of which isdisposed adjacent to the other side panel of the carrier, each of saidcontainer wall portions having an opening in register with one of theopenings in the adjacent side panel, a closure member forming a top wallfor each container and extending transversely of and outwardly of theupper edges of said side panels of the carrier member, and means carriedby each closure member depending along the upper portion of the carrierside panels and projecting through the adjacent registering openings inthe side panel and side wall portions for interlocking the containersand carrier.

9. A unitary package of the character described composed of sheetmaterial such as paperboard and comprising in combination, a carriermember formed from a single piece of the material and providing agenerally rectangular bottom panel and a side panel extending along andupward from each of a pair of opposite side edges of the bottom panel,each of the side panels having a plurality of openings therethroughlocated in spaced relation to one another and to the boundaries of thepanel,

a flap -integral with each side panel at each of said openingstherethrough, a plurality of containers each of substantially hexahedralform disposed with a corresponding side of each on the upper side ofsaid bottom panel and with one of a pair of opposite sides extendingupward adjacent and substantially parallel to the inner faces of one ofsaid side panels and the other of such pair similarly related to theinner face of the other of said side panels, each container having anintegral closure member forming its upper side opposite to said bottomside, an end portion of each closure member extending across anddownwardly from the top edge of one of said side panels, a locking flapon each of said closure end portions, one of said pair of sides of eachcontainer having an opening therethrough, each container sideopening'being in register with one of the flaps of the adjacent carrierside panel and with the flap on such container closure portion and suchflaps being disposed through such openings.

10. A unitary package of the character described composed of sheetmaterial such as paperboard and oomprising in combination, a carriermember formed from a single piece of the material and providing agenerally rectangular bottom panel and a side panel extending along andupward from each of a pair of opposite side edges of the bottom panel,each of the side panels having a plurality of openings therethroughlocated in spaced relation to one another and to the boundaries of thepanel, a flap integral with each side panel at each of said openingstherethrough, a plurality of containers each of substantially hexahedralform disposed with a corresponding side of each on the upper side ofsaid bottom panel and with one of a pair of opposite sides extendingupward adjacent and substantially parallel to the inner face of one ofsaid side panels and the other of such pair similarly related to theinner face of the other of said side panels, the upper edges of saidopposite sides of the container being substantially flush with therespectively adjacent upper edges of said side panels, each containerhaving an integral closure member forming its upper side opposite tosaid bottom side, an end portion of each closure member adjacent to eachside panel being extended across the adjacent flush edges of one of saidopposite sides and the side panel and thence downward for apredetermined distance substantially in face-to-face relation to theouter face of the adjacent side panel, a locking flap formed on each ofsaid closure end portions at its lower terminus, each of said pair ofsides of each container having an opening therethrough, each containerside opening being in register with one of the flaps of the adjacentcarrier side panel and with the flap on such container closure portionsand such flaps being disposed through such openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS289,790 Wilcox Dec. 4, 1883 1,669,617 Kennedy May 15, 1928 1,715,047Scotcher May 28, 1929 1,869,724 Wallace Aug. 2, 1932 1,888,855 FullerNov. 22, 1932 2,636,600 Denton Apr. 28, 1953

